On this day, I give my deepest thanks for all those who stand tall to defend our Freedom.

To all those I've been honored to meet through Soldiers' Angels, I am humbled to have had the privilege to come to know you. To Steven and his Marines, to Omar, to Janette, and to Marcos, may you pass a quiet day, and know that though you are far away, you are never far from our hearts. To Christian, both Mikes, Cliff, Todd, Henry, Phil, Cisco, and all those who have safely returned home, may this day be a day to spend with friends and family, sure in the knowledge that you are loved and appreciated. To those who have returned wounded, and struggle to recover, may this day be free of pain, and may you be strong and fit. Know that we stand with you as you heal. To the families of those that have laid down their lives for our nation, may this day bring comfort and the knowledge that their sacrifice was not in vain, and that they will never be forgotten. And to those who still do battle with demons in the shadow of their minds, may this day bring peace. To my father-in-law, you will always be our Hero - both for what you did then, and for all you do each and every day. We love you. To all of you - you are our Heroes, you are loved, and we are grateful.

- Pam

Veterans' Day Links:
Brothers gather letters to war dead
Florida's only living WWI vet honored
Bush dedicates Marine Museum in Virginia
General: GIs preserve Afghan freedom
Veterans Day Center – at Military.com
Opinion: The Price of Freedom
Pace Thanks Vets, Talks on Way Forward in Terror War

Make Peace or Die:
Now available on DVD from MakePeaceOrDie.com and Amazon.com

"Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty." - Department of Veterans Affairs

When I set out to create the documentary film "Make Peace or Die: The First Days of War in Iraq with 1st Battalion 5th Marines" in many ways my personal intent was the same as Veterans Day: to honor the contributions made by, in this case, a small group of Marine Corps infantrymen.

To tell you a little about myself, I am the youngest of three boys. My oldest brother was a Marine and my middle brother was in the Navy. My father was a two-tour veteran of Vietnam. I was the first man in my family not to go into the military but rather studied cinema at the University of Southern California. My hope is that after watching this movie, the audience comes to deeply understand the level of honor, courage, and commitment with which each of these men serve -- as a filmmaker and an American, this is my duty.

Semper Gratus,
Valerian Bennett
Director, "Make Peace or Die:
The First Days of War in Iraq
with 1st Battalion 5th Marines"


"Make Peace or Die: The First Days of War in Iraq with 1st Battalion 5th Marines" is a boots-on-the ground account of the treacherous three-week journey by a group of infantry Marines from the oilfields of Kuwait to Saddam Hussein's palace in Baghdad during the opening of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Footage from embedded reporters, Department of Defense archives, digital images from individual Marines, and interviews conducted by a former member of 1/5 in the summer of 2003 provide a rare glimpse into the souls of America's warriors. From their first full-scale battle with the enemy at Saddam Canal to dealing with the fog of war at a roadblock on the streets of Baghdad, we witness in these men the essence of conflict, both personal and professional, as seen through the ages. The film serves as both an intensely personal oral history and a chilling snapshot of events that would give way to the future in Iraq.

Since its debut at the Annual MarineParents.com Conference in Houston, TX the film has been received by outstanding reviews:

"You captured the essence of 1/5's march to Baghdad...I witnessed first-hand the accounts you brilliantly brought to life in your DVD."Ross Simpson, Associated Press embedded reporter

"I really enjoyed this movie and look forward to sharing it with friends and family. I think it does a great job of representing what 1/5 and the Marine Corps is all about."Sgt. Jeffrey Camozzi

"I would like to thank you personally on a job well done...As a member of 1/5 during the initial invasion it was a great honor to have someone tell our story."Matthew McCaffery, Deputy Mayor, New Port Richey, FL

HAPPY VETERANS DAY

I wanted to pay tribute to all the men and women who served and serve in the Military of the United States of America.

For this special day, I made a memorial-wallpaper yesterday evening. I attach it. I hope that you like it.

God bless you, U.S. GIs and The States!

See you

Sincerely,
Ignacio S. Cucuzza.
The staunchest supporter of U.S. forces overseas.

Good Morning America-

In honor of Veterans Day I would like to share this with you. Please pass it along.

My late father, John Mitchum was a WWII veteran and a patriot. He also happened to be a Grammy nominated poet and actor. My father wrote the only album John Wayne ever recorded, AMERICA, WHY I LOVE HER.

Several of his friends are joining to create a tribute to my father and his works by recording his poetry.

I would like to pay tribute to all our Veterans by sharing a few links with you.

Jimmie Rodgers (Honeycomb fame) came out of retirement to record the last poem written, PURPLE HEART.
http://johnmitchum.com/purpleheart.htm

Robert Easton recorded TAPS
http://johnmitchum.com/taps.htm
and WHY ARE YOU MARCHING SON?
http://johnmitchum.com/marching_son.htm

Todd Van Voris recorded one of my father's favorite poems,FREEDOM NEVER SLEEPS.
http://johnmitchum.com/never_sleeps.htm

John Mitchum reciting AMERICA, WHY I LOVE HER with a video.
http://johnmitchum.com/america_video.htm

These were all written for all Americans with love, honor and respect
God Bless the Troops and God Bless America
Cindy Mitchum

This post includes graphics by Doug Kidd